Apparatus for veiling substrates

ABSTRACT

A substrate veiling device which is adapted to apply threedimensional lines of paint to the surface of acoustical fiberboard products and the like. The products to which the paint is to be applied are moved through a painting booth on a conveyor, and a plurality of paint distribution housings are mounted in the booth above the conveyor. Paint is supplied under pressure to these housings and extruded through a plurality of orifices in the base of the housings in the form of continuous strings which then fall upon the surface of the products on the conveyor. The paint supplied includes a pituitous material and retains its three-dimensional configuration when applied to the products. The paint supply housings are mounted for translation in a circular path in a horizontal plane, and the combined translatory motion of the housings and the lateral motion of the conveyor beneath the housings produce a variety of decorative patterns on the fiberboard products.

United States Patent [191 Wendlandt et a]. Apr. 9, 1974 [54] APPARATUS FOR VEILING SUBSTRATES 3,360,392 12/1967 Mod et al 117/37 R [75] Inventors: Ronald A. Wendlandt, Montgomery,

I Ohio; David Flood, Mendham; Primary Exammerl ,ouis K. R mrodt Eugene Donneny, Ramsey, both Attorney, Agent, or FzrmCurt1s, Morris & Safi'ord of NJ. 7 [73] Assignee: The Flintkote Company, White [57] ABSTRACT Plains, NY. A substrate veiling device which is adapted to apply I three-dimensional lines of paint to the surface of [22] Flled' 1972 acoustical fiberboard products and the like. The prod- [21] Appl. No.: 244,297 nets to which the paint is to be applied are moved through a painting booth on a conveyor, and a plural- Related'U'S' APphcauon Data ity of paint distribution housings are mounted in the [62] 1970' booth above the conveyor. Paint is supplied under abandoned pressure to these housings and extruded through a plurality of orifices in the base of the housings in the form 118/323 of continuous strings which then fall upon the surface I of the products on the conveyor. The paint supplied [58] of searchl 3 includes a pituitous material and retains its threedimensional configuration when applied to the products. The paint supply housings are mounted for trans- [56] References Cited lation in a circular path in a horizontal plane, and the UNITED TE PATENTS combined translatory motion of the housings and the 430,707 6/ 1890 Strahan 117/37 R lateral motion of the conveyor beneath the housings 1,728,100 9/1929 Burdick 117/37 R produce a variety of decorative patterns on the fiber- 1 Loeffler et al. 1 l board products 3,293,063 12/1966 7 1 3.359.941 12/1967 Sible' 118/D1G. 4 11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR VEILING SUBSTRATES This application is a division of application Ser. No. 13,954, filed Feb. 25, 1970 and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to paint applying methods and machines and particularly to a device capable of forming a decorative three-dimensional design with a pituitous paint on the surface of acoustical fiberboard, ceiling tile products and the like.

A simple and inexpensive method and apparatus for applying a three-dimensional decorative design to acoustical fiberboard ceiling tiles and other fibrous substrates has long been sought by fabricators of these products. The ceiling tiles currently available, are for the most part, flat or have lightly textured surfaces. These textured surfaces are generally achieved by embossing the tile or by printing an adhesive material on the surface of the tile and applying a decorative material, such as flock or thermographic raising powder, to the surface of the adhesive. Other decorative ceiling tiles have been produced by mechanically spraying a heavy body paint in a random pebble effect on the surface of the tile.

Textured decorative surfaces formed by any of these methods have generally not achieved the desired finish and in addition, have either covered or destroyed a substantial portion of the surface of the tile whereby its acoustical performance is greatly deteriorated.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine and method for applying a three-dimensional textured finish to fiberboard products lt is a further object of this invention to apply a decorative textured finish to fiberboard products which is characterized by random continuous fine lines. It is a still further object of this invention to provide a decorative fiberboard product which can be produced in a continuous one-step production line operation. It is a further object of this invention to apply a randomly lined three-dimensional decorative design to a fiberboard stubstrate having rough or smooth surfaces. It is another object of this invention to provide a textured decorative finish on a fibrous acoustical ceiling tile or other like product wherein a substantial area of the tile s surface remains exposed for acoustical performance.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a paint applying method and machine for producing a veiled decorative effect on the surfaces of fiberboard products, which is characterized by random, continuous, three-dimensional fine lines on a surface of the product. The device includes a .painting booth through which a conveyor moves the products to be veiled. A plurality of paint distributing housings are mounted above the conveyor for translation in a generally circular path in a horizontal plane through a transmission mechanism operatively connected to a rotary drive means. The transmission includes a pair of eccentric shafts connected to the housings which are effective to convert the rotary drive of the motor to translatory motion of the housings. Paint is introducedto the housings under pressure and is extruded through a plurality of orifices therein in the form of continuous strings. These strings fall to the surface of the product on the conveyor below the housings and as the paint distribution housings are translated in a circular path above the moving conveyor, these strings form a veiled decorative design pattern on the surface of the product. A pituitous paint having a high viscosity is used, which, when applied to the product in this manner will retain its three-dimensional characteristics after drying.

The design pattern of the lines applied to the substrates may be varied by adjusting the speed of travel of the conveyor, the speed of translation of the distribution housings, the eccentricity of the shafts or any combination of these three variables. In addition, the number and pattern of orifices on the housings and their diameters may be varied to achieve different design patterns and line thicknesses. A further random effect can be achieved by directing currents of air, as for example from a fan, through the threads or strings of the paint as they fall towards the product.

Construction of the preferred embodiment as well as the advantages thereof, which include simplicity of design, economy of manufacture, capacity for numerous design variations, provision of three-dimensional design lines, and a textured surface, while a substantial area of that surface remains exposed for acoustical performance, will become further apparent in the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a production line including the paint veiling booth of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the transmission mechanisms and paint distribution housings with parts broken away taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view taken partly in section on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the shaft counterweight taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the retainer plate and coupling body taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG.'7 is a plan view of the housing base of the paint distribution housing base taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the paint distribution housings and their support plate with parts broken away to illustrate the connecting structure;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the paint distribution housing taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an acoustical ceiling tile veiled by the apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the ceiling tile of FIG. 10 taken on line 11-11.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is disclosed a paint veiling booth 10, situated in a fiberboard substrate production line, which receives fiberboard substrates 11 from a press 12. A conveyor 22 transports the substrates from the press 12 to a conveyor 24 which moves the substrates through the veiling booth 10. A paint dryer 14 is situated in the production line at the opposed end of the veiling booth and includes a conveyor 26 for receiving the painted substrates from the booth. The conveyor 24 includes rollers 23 and 25 and is driven through roller 25 by a variable speed motor 27.

The veiling booth 10 includes a frame 16 which supports veiling apparatus 30 above conveyor 24. Apparatus 30.is seated on horizontal frame member 18 and includes a motor 38 for driving transmission mechanisms 41 and 42 on which are journalled a plurality of paint distribution housings 50. Transmissions 41 and 42 are rotated by motor 38 and serve to continuously translate housings 50 in a generally circular path above conveyor 24, as will be discussed more fully hereinafter. Paint is supplied to the distribution housings 50 through flexible tubes 202 from pressure tanks 204 during translation of the housings for extrusion and application of the paint to substrates 11.

The veiling apparatus includes a housing and support platform 32 defined by a pair of side channel members 33, a top plate 34, and bottom plates 36. Channel members 33 extend transversely of frame members 18, and spacers 37, at each end of channels 33, serve to support housing 32 on members 18.

Variable speed drive motor 38 is mounted on top plate 34 and includes a power takeoff sheave 39 for driving the transmissions 41 and 42. Drive unit support blocks 40 are mounted on the top plate 34 to support the transmissions 41 and 42, and tie bar 43 is fixed at each end to support blocks 40, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to maintain stability in the veiling device as paint distribution housings 50 are translated in a circular path.

Transmissions 41 and 42 include right angle drive units 54 and 56, respectively, fixed on each of the support blocks 40. These units include conventional bevel gears and the horizontal shaft 61 of the unit 54 is drivingly interconnected to the horizontal shaft 60 of the unit 56 by the shaft 62 and coupling members 64. The shaft 60 extends through unit 56 and a pair of sheaves 58 are fixed, for example by a splined connection, on one end thereof, as seen in FIG. 3. Sheaves 58 are operatively connected to the power take off sheave 39 of motor 38 by belts 59 to drive the transmissions 41 and 42 and thus translate paint housings 50.

Units 54 and 56 each include vertical drive shafts 65 and 66, respectively, which are connected by coupling members 74 to the driven shafts 68 and 69 of the transmissions 41, 42. These shafts, 68 and 69, are journalled through the shaft housing 32 in a like manner, and thus only shaft 68 is described in detail.

Shaft 68 is splined at one end in coupling member 74 and extends vertically through openings in the top plate 34 and bottom plate 36 of housing 32. A flanged bearing 75 is seated in the enlarged opening 35 in top plate 34 and journals the shaft therein. A similar flanged bearing 77 is fixed to the underside of bottom plate 36 in opening 37, and the lower end of shaft 68 extends through and is journalled in this bearing.

The lower end 78 of the shaft 68 is fixed in a coupling body and counterweight 90 and the lower end 79 of shaft 69 is fixed in a similar coupling body and counterweight 91. The coupling bodies provide the mechanism by which the rotary motion of the vertical shafts 68, 69 is utilized to produce translatory motion of the paint distribution housings 50 and to balance the eccentric movements thereof.

Shaft ends 78 and 79 are provided with transverse bores 80 having a dowel pin 81 therein which are press fit in the bores and fix the shafts 68 and 69 in their respective coupling bodies 90, 91. Of course, any other suitable connecting means could be used in lieu of the dowel pin.

As seen in FIG. 6, the coupling body 90 is generally rectangular and includes enlarged portions 92 which function as counterweights to assist in balancing transmission 41, as the housings 50 are translated. A longitudinally extending slot 94, defined by peripheral walls 96, is provided in the bottom of the body 90 and this slot is closed by retainer plate 98 attached to the bottom of body by means of the bolts 99 to provide an enclosed slide chamber 97 within body 90. As more fully described hereinafter, chamber 97 provides an adjustable eccentric connection between housings 50 and shaft 68 which produces circular translatory motion of the housings.

Rectangular slide block 100 is inserted in the slot 94 and rests against the top of the retainer plate 98. Block 100 includes a bore 102 adapted to receive eccentric shaft 104 which is fixed at one in bore 102 by means of a press fit dowel pin to prevent rotation of the shaft in the block and rotatably connected to housings 50 at its other end.

Retainer plate 98 includes an elongated slot 106 through which the shaft 104 extends to permit the eccentricity of shaft 104 to be varied with respect to the shaft 68 and thus also vary the character of the circular path in which housings 50 are moved. The ends of slot 94 and slide chamber 97 are closed by means of the plates 108 and 110 respectively, which are fixed by suitable bolts 112 against the ends of the side walls 96.

Plate 110 of the coupling block 90 includes a bore 113 and the slide block includes a threaded bore 114 which is in alignment with bore 113. A bolt 115 is joumaled in bore 113 and has one end threaded, as at 117, for threaded engagement in bore 114 and its other end 116 adapted to be engaged by a wrenching tool. The position of bolt 115 with respect to plate is fixed by the cooperation of the bolts enlarged section 118 and its head 116. Thus, rotation of the bolt will thread the end 117 in the bore 114 and cause the block 100 to move with respect to the bolt and vary its position within the slot 94. As the position of the block 100 within the slot is changed, the eccentricity of the shaft 104 with respect to shaft 68 and the circular translatory path of housing 50, will be varied.

Coupling body 91 is similar in construction to the coupling body 90, however, since the shafts 104 are interconnected by means of the paint distribution housings 50 only one of the bodies 90 or 91 must include a shaft adjustment bolt 115, as is illustrated in FIG. 3. As the block 100 in the coupling body 90 is adjusted the block 101 within coupling body 91 and its shaft 104 will be correspondingly moved due to their common connection to the housings 50.

A bolt 120 is threaded through the plate 108 of the body 90' and similar bolts 120 are threaded through each of end plates 108, 110 of the body 91. When block 100 is adjusted by bolt so that shafts 104 are positioned at their desired eccentricity the bolts are threaded into the slots 94 to engage their respective slides 100 and 101 and thus serve as abutment means to fix the slide blocks in position.

With shafts 104 thus eccentrically mounted at one end on the shafts 68, 69, their opposed ends 121 will describe circles lying in a horizontal plane as the shafts 68 and 69 are rotated. Shaft ends 121 are journalled in a support plate 52 which supports paint distribution housings 50, and in this manner, housings 50 are translated in a circular path in a horizontal plane as the shafts 68 and 69 are rotated.

The journal connections between the shafts 104 and the support plate 52 are formed by means of housings 122 which are fixed to the plate 52 by a plurality of pins, or other suitable fasteners 123, and include an interior bearing surface 124. Shafts 104 extend through bearings 125 in housings 122 and have a shaft retainer ring 126 fixed at ends 121 thereof. A thrust washer 127 is positioned around shaft 104 against the bearing surface 124 and a thrust bearing 128 is positioned between thrust washer 127 and the retainer member 121. Thus housings 122 are seated on washers 124 by their bearing surfaces 124 and supported by the shafts 104 by means of retainer rings 126, while bearings 125 and 128 accommodate relative movement between shafts 104 and plate 52 to permit translation of plate 52 and housings 50. I

To prevent undue strain on the shafts 68, 69 due to the generally circular translation of the housings 50, which are relatively heavy when filled with paint, a counterweight 130 is mounted within housing 36 on each of the shafts 68 and 69. A shaft retaining ring 132 is fixed on the shafts 68 and 69 beneath the counterweights 130 and is seated on thrust bearings 133. Thrust rings 134 are mounted on the bottom plates 135 and the thrust bearings 133 are seated thereon to transfer a substantial portion of the weight of the counterweights 130 to frame 16. Thus the weight of the members 130 is not borne by the shafts 68 and 69 and yet their effectiveness as counterweights is not disturbed. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the counterweights 130 are generally arcuate members clamped against the shaft by blocks 135 and bolts 136. The enlarged portions 92 of the coupling bodies 90,91 also function as counterweights and supplement the effect of the members 130.

Paint distribution housings 50 are formed by means of a semi-cylindrical elongated hollow member 140 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 9. The edges 141 of the members 140 are welded to the interior portion of a generally rectangular peripheral plate member 142 and its ends are closed by means of the plates 190. The open bottoms of the semi-cylindrical members 140 are provided with a paint screening member 145 having a generally rectangular peripheral support member 146 and a pair of screens 152 and 154 fixed within the support member.

A bottom plate 148, preferably formed of stainless steel, is provided with a plurality of orifices 156 through which paint is extruded for application to a substrate moving below the housing. Member 146 and plate 148 are bolted together on the peripheral plate member 142 by means of fasteners 149. A pair of gaskets 155 are used on either side of the plate 146 to provide a seal to prevent paint leakage through the assembly.

Upper screen member 152 is preferably formed of a cloth-like material having a US. Standard Sieve size opening of 30 mesh and lower screen 154 is preferably formed with a substantially wider mesh, e.g., U.S. Standard Sieve size of one-fourth inch. The fine mesh of the upper screen 152 serves to strain the paint passing therethrough and to prevent the passage of coagulated paint and other particles which might tend to block the distribution orifices 156. The lower and wider mesh screen 154 receives the paint passing through the screen 152 and serves to support the fine upper screen 152 in spaced relation from plate 148 to facilitate extrusion of paint flowing from screen 152 through orifices 156.

.Since a high viscosity paint having a pituitous material therein is used in this device, when paint is supplied to the housings under pressure it will be extruded through the orifices 156 in the form of continuous strings of paint which will retain their configuration when applied to a substrate. The diameter of orifices 156 may be varied as desired to vary the dimensions of the strings of paint applied to the substrates and in addition the orifices may be arranged in any predetermined pattern to achieve a variety of veil effects.

Paint distribution housings 50 are attached to the support plate 52 by means of a pair of yoke support blocks 160. As illustrated in FlG. 4 each block is fixed to the arcuate top surface of the member and includes a stern 162 at its upper end. Each stem 162 has a pair of transverse bores 163 in which are inserted the shafts 164 of cam followers 165 which slidably mount yokes 160 and housings 50 on plate 52.

Exterior gibs and interior gibs 172 provide bearing surfaces 173 on which the cam followers 165 are seated to support housings 50. The gibs are mounted in spaced relation below support plate 52 by bolts 161 and exterior and interior spacers 166 and 168 serve to maintain the position of the gibs with respect to support plate 52.

This mounting arrangement for the yokes 160 permits ready removal of the housings 50 from the support plate 52 since there is no fixed connection between them. Plate 52 and gibs 170, 172 form the slots 167 and cam followers 165 are merely slid into slots 167 on the bearing surfaces 173 of the gibs for insertion or removal. During operation of the apparatus however, the ends of the slots 167 are closed by locating bars 179 and 180 which are fastened to the ends of spacers 166 and 168 by means of fasteners 186. These bars prevent removal of yokes 160 from their position on the gibs during translation of housings 50. I

Yokes 160 each include a transverse bore 184, and the locater bars include locating pins as illustrated in FIG. 9. The pins 185 are axially aligned with the bores 184 so that when the yokes of the distribution housing are inserted in the slot 163 the pins 185 will be inserted in the yokes bores 184 to properly seat and position the yokes and thus also, housings 50. It is thus seen, that by this construction, if one of the locater bars 179 or 180 is removed the housings 50 can be readily slid out of slot 163. This type of mounting facilitates the use of interchangeable paint distribution housings in order to vary the veiling patterns desired and to maintain the device in operation while a set of veiling housings is being cleaned.

Each end of housing 50 is provided with a small section of threaded pipe 192 so that either end of the housing can be connected to a source of paint as desired. As seen in FIG. 3, a cap 194 is applied to one of the pipes to seal that end of the housing and prevent paint discharge therefrom. The remaining pipe 192 is coupled to a paint supply system 200 by means of the flexible hoses 202. Paint is supplied from a pair of pressure tanks 204 which deliver paint under pressure to manifold 206 which includes a plurality of discharge openings 208 to which one end of each of the hoses 202 is connected thereby supplying paint under pressure to the distribution housings 50.

As a supply of pressurized paint is continuously introduced into housings 50, the paint therein is extruded through the orifices 156 in the form of continuous strings or threads of paint 210 as illustrated in FIG. 3. These threads or strings of paint fall under the influence of gravity onto the fibrous substrate passing beneath the housings on the conveyor 24.

As the motor 38 operates to rotate the shafts 68 and 69, paint distribution housings 50 will be translated in a circular path in a horizontal plane above the substrates and the conveyor, due to their operative connection with the eccentricity mounted shafts 104. The translatory motion ofhousings 50 and the motion of the conveyor 24 combine to form a random pattern of paint threads 210 on substrate 11. As previously noted motor 38 and motor 27 are of the variable speed type and thus additonal random effects can be achieved by adjusting and varying the relative speeds of these motors. Likewise additional variations can be achieved by adjusting the eccentricity of shafts 104, the patterns of the orifices 156 and their diameters.

FIG. 2 illustrates a fan 212 mounted on a frame 213 above the conveyor 24 which is optionally used to direct a flow of air through the threads 210. The flow of air disturbs the threads as they fall to substrate and serves as an additional method of varying the veiling line pattern applied to the substrates.

While the transmissions of the preferred embodiment as described above cooperate to move the paint distribution housings in a generally circular path in a horizontal plane, it is foreseen that other transmission mechanisms may be used. Veiling lines having a satisfactory decorative pattern may be formed from housings which are translated by their transmissions in a rotary, oscillating, or other repetitive motion above the substrate.

The apparatus of this invention has been found to be particularly useful in the preparation of acoustical fiberboard ceiling tile and drop-in panels. As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, one such tile 200 having a fibrous base 210 includes a surface 212 which is decorated by means of veiling lines of paint 214 applied by the above-described apparatus. It is clearly seen that while a decorative three-dimensional effect has been applied to the surface 212 a maximum amount of the surface area remains uncovered, permitting it to retain its desired acoustical properties.

As seen in FIG. 11, the cross-section of the lines 214 is substantially arcuate and has a height which is approximately one half of their width. Since the paint includes a pituitous material and has a high viscosity, it has sufficient body to retain its three-dimensional continuous line form, and even on a porous board or a rough surfaced fibrous substrate such as acoustical ceiling tile, the paint will not slump or flow into a flattened ribbon. In one embodiment of the device which has been tested, each line had a thickness of 0.01 inches to 0.05 inches and a height of from 0.005 inches to 0.03 inches.

After the substrate is veiled and dryed, it is cut to produce the ceiling tile illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 which includes the conventional tongue 216 and groove 218 by which these tiles are fitted together to form a completed ceiling.

It is thus seen that a device and method are provided for creating a decorative veiled effect upon porous, low density fibrous substrate products such as acoustical fiberboard which provides a textured effect and yet leaves substantial areas of the substrate exposed. In acoustical fiberboards the remaining exposed portion characteristics.

It is to be understood that the foregoing disclosure of the preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrative and exemplary only, and that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and described since modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the inventive concept.

What is claimed is:

1. In a substrate painting booth having a conveyor adapted to move substrates therethrough, a paint applying device, comprising, a paint distribution plate movably mounted on said booth above said conveyor and having a plurality of orifices therein, means for supplying paint under pressure to said plate for extrusion through said orifices to form a plurality of strings of paint, and means for moving said plate with a repetitive motion in a generally circular path above said substrate and in a relatively horizontal plane whereby said strands fall onto said substrate in a random pattern of paint veil lines; said moving means including, a motor mounted on said booth, at least one vertically extending shaft journalled in said booth for rotation by said motor, a second vertically extending shaft, means for eccentrically mounting said second shaft at one end thereof on said one vertical shaft, and means for journalling the opposed end of said second shaft to said paint distribution plate whereby, as said one vertical shaft is rotated by said motor, said paint distribution plate is rotated in a planar circular path, in a relatively horizontal plane, above said conveyor.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying paint includes, a paint distribution housing fixed tosaid plate, a source of paint under pressure, and a flexible conduit means connected to said source and said housing for providing a continuous supply of paint under pressure to said housing and said plate as said plate is moved.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said journaling means comprises a support plate having a top side and a bottom side, a bearing fixed to said top side and receiving said opposed end of said second shaft, and means removably mounting said housings on the bottom side of said support plate.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 including a pair of vertically extending shafts, each said vertical shaft having a second shaft mounted eccentrically at one end to its associated vertical shaft, said second shafts being journaled at their opposed ends to said housing.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for eccentrically mounting said second shafts on said shafts includes means for adjusting the eccentricity of said second shafts with respect to said first shafts, whereby the pattern of veil lines may be varied.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor comprises a variable speed rotary motor whereby the speed of rotation of the vertical shafts and the pattern of veil lines is varied.

7. The device as defined in claim 1 including a fan means mounted on said booth for directing a flow of air through the strands of paint falling on the substrate whereby the pattern of veil lines is varied.

8. An apparatus for producing a veiled pattern on the surface of a substrate product comprising, a support frame, a paint distribution housing mounted on said frame for translation in a planar circular path and in a relatively horizontal plane, said housing including a base member having a plurality of paint distribution orifices therein, means for supplying paint under pressure to said housing for extrusion through said orifices to form a plurality of strings of paint, means for translating said housing in a generally circular path of travel in a horizontal plane, whereby said strings of paint are randomly moved after they are extruded from said base, and a conveyor below said housing bearing said substrate whereby said strings of paint fall on the surface of said substrate in a random veiling line pattern as the substrate is moved beneath the housing.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said paint distribution housing includes first and second perforated screen members mounted in said housing above said base member, said first screen member having a plurality of relatively large apertures formed therein and being located directly above said base member, and said second screen member having a plurality of apertures of substantially smaller size than said first screen member, and located above said first screen member whereby said second screen member screens impurities and coagulants from the paint in said housing prior to distribution through said orifices, and said first screen member evenly distributes paint flowing through said second screen member, and spaces said second screen member from said base member.

10. A substrate veiling apparatus comprising, a frame, a horizontal support means mounted on said frame, a pair of first vertically extending shafts journaled in said support means and having top and bottom ends, a drive means for rotating said shafts mounted on said support means and operatively connected to the top end of each of said shafts, a coupling body fixed on the bottom end of each of said shafts and having an elongated slot in the base thereof, a second vertically extending shaft slidably mounted in each of said slots eccentrically of its associated first vertical shaft, means on said body for sliding said second shafts in said slot and for adjusting their eccentricity, a mounting plate joumaled on the free ends of each of said pins whereby said mounting plate is translated in a circular path in a horizontal plane as said shafts are rotated, a plurality of hollow paint distribution housings removably mounted on said mounting plate, for translation therewith, each of said housings having a base member having a plurality of orifices therein, a source of paint under pressure communicating with said housings and adapted to force a continuous strand of paint through each of said orifices as said mounting plates and orifices are translated, and a conveyor extending through said frame, adapted to transport the substrates to be veiled, whereby said strands of paint forced from said housings fall upon the surface of said substrates as said housings are translated, to form a three-dimensional veil-effect pattern of paint lines thereon.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 including means mounted on said first shafts for centrifugally balancing the weight of said paint distribution housing during movement thereof in said circular path. 

1. In a substrate painting booth having a conveyor adapted to move substrates therethrough, a paint applying device, comprising, a paint distribution plate movably mounted on said booth above said conveyor and having a plurality of orifices therein, means for supplying paint under pressure to said plate for extrusion through said orifices to form a plurality of strings of paint, and means for moving said plate with a repetitive motion in a generally circular path above said substrate and in a relatively horizontal plane whereby said strands fall onto said substrate in a random pattern of paint veil lines; said moving means including, a motor mounted on said booth, at least one vertically extending shaft journalled in said booth for rotation by said motor, a second vertically extending shaft, means for eccentrically mounting said second shaft at one end thereof on said one vertical shaft, and means for journalling the opposed end of said second shaft to said paint distribution plate whereby, as said one vertical shaft is rotated by said motor, said paint distribution plate is rotated in a planar circular path, in a relatively horizontal plane, above said conveyor.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying paint includes, a paint distribution housing fixed to said plate, a source of paint under pressure, and a flexible conduit means connected to said source and said housing for providing a continuous supply of paint under pressure to said housing and said plate as said plate is moved.
 3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said journaling means comprises a support plate having a top side and a bottom side, a bearing fixed to said top side and receiving said opposed end of said second shaft, and means removably mounting said housings on the bottom side of said support plate.
 4. The device as defined in claim 3 including a pair of vertically extending shafts, each said vertical shaft hAving a second shaft mounted eccentrically at one end to its associated vertical shaft, said second shafts being journaled at their opposed ends to said housing.
 5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for eccentrically mounting said second shafts on said shafts includes means for adjusting the eccentricity of said second shafts with respect to said first shafts, whereby the pattern of veil lines may be varied.
 6. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor comprises a variable speed rotary motor whereby the speed of rotation of the vertical shafts and the pattern of veil lines is varied.
 7. The device as defined in claim 1 including a fan means mounted on said booth for directing a flow of air through the strands of paint falling on the substrate whereby the pattern of veil lines is varied.
 8. An apparatus for producing a veiled pattern on the surface of a substrate product comprising, a support frame, a paint distribution housing mounted on said frame for translation in a planar circular path and in a relatively horizontal plane, said housing including a base member having a plurality of paint distribution orifices therein, means for supplying paint under pressure to said housing for extrusion through said orifices to form a plurality of strings of paint, means for translating said housing in a generally circular path of travel in a horizontal plane, whereby said strings of paint are randomly moved after they are extruded from said base, and a conveyor below said housing bearing said substrate whereby said strings of paint fall on the surface of said substrate in a random veiling line pattern as the substrate is moved beneath the housing.
 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said paint distribution housing includes first and second perforated screen members mounted in said housing above said base member, said first screen member having a plurality of relatively large apertures formed therein and being located directly above said base member, and said second screen member having a plurality of apertures of substantially smaller size than said first screen member, and located above said first screen member whereby said second screen member screens impurities and coagulants from the paint in said housing prior to distribution through said orifices, and said first screen member evenly distributes paint flowing through said second screen member, and spaces said second screen member from said base member.
 10. A substrate veiling apparatus comprising, a frame, a horizontal support means mounted on said frame, a pair of first vertically extending shafts journaled in said support means and having top and bottom ends, a drive means for rotating said shafts mounted on said support means and operatively connected to the top end of each of said shafts, a coupling body fixed on the bottom end of each of said shafts and having an elongated slot in the base thereof, a second vertically extending shaft slidably mounted in each of said slots eccentrically of its associated first vertical shaft, means on said body for sliding said second shafts in said slot and for adjusting their eccentricity, a mounting plate journaled on the free ends of each of said pins whereby said mounting plate is translated in a circular path in a horizontal plane as said shafts are rotated, a plurality of hollow paint distribution housings removably mounted on said mounting plate, for translation therewith, each of said housings having a base member having a plurality of orifices therein, a source of paint under pressure communicating with said housings and adapted to force a continuous strand of paint through each of said orifices as said mounting plates and orifices are translated, and a conveyor extending through said frame, adapted to transport the substrates to be veiled, whereby said strands of paint forced from said housings fall upon the surface of said substrates as said housings are translated, to form a three-dimensional veil-effect pattern of paint lines thereOn.
 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 including means mounted on said first shafts for centrifugally balancing the weight of said paint distribution housing during movement thereof in said circular path. 